Weatherproof snail bait



n 1 a STATES PATENT i John G. Beekler, Santa Monica, Calif v H i No i'wine. ,ApplicationJuly 12; 19 l ,1, a

Serial No. 40232431 l l s Claims; (011674-48) This invention relates toa weatherproof snail .wireworlms, and :thelike,

bait useful. the extermination of snails, slugs,

An objector, the invention is to. provide a snail bait that is weatherresistant particularly resistantvtolwaterthat maybe appliedthereto suchas by sprinkling or by rain. I The ability, of metaldehyde, toexterminate snails, slugs, wire,worms,,and the like'has been 'dehyde;formed by the controlled oxidation of ethyl alco-hol. Ifat'raceofsulphuric acidisaddedto anhydrous acetaldchydeandthe mixture iskept at a-low temperaturegabout theireezing'pointoi sublimes withoutmelting, and atthe sameltir ne is partly clecomposedinto acetaldehyde.If heat-j ed in aasealed tube, thatris underl pressure, it decomposescompletely into acetaldehyde. If heatedior several daysattfiqflto 559C.(140 to 1499 F.) itfiorms a mixture of acetaldehyde and paraldehyde. Thelatter is a liquid polymer which has the formula (C2H4O)3.

Heretofore, it has been customary to prepare, metaldehyde snail baits bymixing finely divided metaldehyde with some organic material such asbran, causing the metaldehyde particles to ad,, here to the bran. Theresulting mixture has been ent snail' bait weatherproofzi'oweatherdesistf proved snail bait asfollo'wsf reduce metaldee hyde toafinely divided,oonditionand ix equal Weights of finely divided*riietaldhyde andparaffin oil. I i'Ifhese "are stirred togetlier to makea, paste.

Me-taldehyd'e is insoluble inmostinstances being only slightlysolubie'in behzoil; ether, and chlo'ro fo 1'1nll ;"1he metaldelry'de andoil are stirred together to'inake a paste} Parafiinwax is then meltedand'there isfmixed thereinpow dere'd sugar 1 and a, cereal floor), theproportions beinginthe preferred f ormthree' ouncesof sugarand sixounces of eereal'flour were ounces of paraffin wax: At'the sametim'ethere is intro duoedsome off the paste prepared 'from the mixtureoflmetaldehyde and parafiin oil; the admixture of the paste'bingsuch asi toincorporate suffi'cierit of the paste so that the resulting cornposition therewill be} present approximately 2 metaldehyde by, weight Theresulting mixture is then poured into molds and allowed to oo andconstitutes the finished weatherproof snail bait.

The metaldehyde present is evenly distributed throughout the paraffinwax and is held therein by the parafiin wax which serves as aweatherproof or weather-resistant holder for the metalsprinkled orspread around flower beds or other.

vegetation subject to snail attack as a means of protecting thevegetation from the snails and: slugs which are not only attracted bythe metaldehyde but are poisoned thereby.

An objection to the above-described form of snail bait is that it is notweather-resistant or resistant to moisture which may be applied bysprinkling or by rain. The b-ranquickly molds V and disintegrates andthe metaldehyde particles become detached therefrom and are washed intothe soil, thus losing their elTectivenes-s against snails and slugsalthough they maystill be effective in the soil againstwire'worms.Consequently, because of this objection Whenever flower beds that areprotected by the bran mixture bait are sprinkled a new application ofthe bait is necessary following the sprinkling in order to, maintainprotection. By means of the snail bait dehyde. The sugar and cerealpresent serve, somewhatas a food attracterj for snails, sings, and wireworms, but an important function as sumed by these ingredients istolrender the paraifin somewhatporous so that the metaldehyde parjticles distributed throughout the paraiifin will be exposed in thepores. For the cereal flour used,

embodying the present invention it is possible to indefinitely protectvegetation around which the bait is applied because of the fact that thepres- I prefer to use equal proportions of wheat, bar

ley, oat, and rice flourwIt will be understood,

however, that any of these ingredients are somewhat optional and thatthe cereal, flour, and the sugar may be dispensed with entirely andporosity of the paraflin secured in othermanners. They are preferredprimarily for the reason that they not only render the paraffin porousbut also act somewhat as a food attracter. It is not news 7 sary inallfinstances to mix the finely d v ded metaldehyde with paraffin oil.The finely divided metaldehyde may be introduced into the moltenparafiin wax directly and distributed throughout the molten wax byvigorous stirring."

placed in containers of shape of design, such as tin lids, bars, etc.,as well as coatings over dummies or forms of wood. When made in ringform the ring-is merely positioned over the bush or plant that it isdesired to protect. When made in segment form, segments may bepositioned around the base of the plant or bush that is to be protected.Bars may be positioned at intervals around the edges of flower beds thatare to be protected. I also find it advantageous to mold the mixtureinto the form of small balls or pel lets that can be positioned aroundthe base or in the neighborhood of vegetation that is to heme-- tectedl.

The improved snail bait is highly resistant to water and weather. I findthat regardless of repeated applications of water, such as by rains orby sprinkling that the snail bait embodying the present invention stillretains its efiectiveness .as a snail exterminator with no noticeabledecrease in its ability to exterminate slugs and snails despite longweathering conditions.-

Parafiin wax is preferably employed for the body of the snail baitbecause of its cheapness and its ability toresist Weathering conditions.However, any other weather-resistant material that will not chemicallyreact with the metaldehyde may be substituted therefor such as resins,both natural and synthetic, tallow or candle stock, gums, plastics, andother waxes. What:

, ever is used for the'body should be weatherresistant, capable of beingmelted at a relatively low temperature commensurate with that ofparaffin wax or should be soluble in a volatile solvent so that it canbe molded to the desired shape. In the preferred form whatever is usedfor the body should preferably, but not necessarily, be rendered. porousand have the metaldehyde evenly distributed throughout without causingthe metaldehyde to undergo any chemical change.

Metaldehyde fades or is exhausted in power when exposed to air and sundue to volatilization. It is this volatility of metaldehyde that enablesthe night crawler to locate it. When deposited upon bran or othersimilar carriers volatilize, is confined almost hermetically sealed andstored in the mass, is only exposed when contacted from the outersurface as it may be devoured by the enemy.

It is so reservoired for long periods of time with practically noexposure or deterioration and so retains its virtue, power, and activedestructive function.

. Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1.' A weatherproof snail bait comprising finely divided metaldehydedistributed in parafin wax.

2. A weatherproof snail bait comprising finely divided metaldehydedistributed in parafiin wax rendered porous by the admixture of a cerealflour.

3. A weatherproof snail bait comprising finely divided metaldehydedistributed in paraffin wax rendered porous by the admixture of a cerealfiour and sugar.

4. A Weatherproof snail bait comprising a body of paraflin wax havingincorporated therein approximately by weight of sugar and cereal flourand approximately 2% by weight of finely divided metaldehyde.

5. A weatherproof snail bait comprising a body containing a substantialproportion of wax and having distributed therein finely dividedmetaldehyde.

6. A weatherproof snail bait comprising. a body composed of asubstantial portion of wax having distributed therein approximately 2%by Weight of finely divided metaldehyde.

Y JOHN G. BEEKLER.

